Volleyball Team Australia Men have come from one set down to beat the Netherlands 3-1 and level their four match series at 1-1 in Rotterdam overnight.

The Australians lost the first set 22-25 but bounced back to level, winning the second set 25-22 before closing down the match 25-17 and 25-18 with great attack and excellent team defence.

But the Australians, who play off for an Olympic berth in Tokyo next month, are not getting carried away and know they have a lot of work to do in their next two matches.

“It was certainly great to break through for a win but we still have areas to improve on, especially our reception,” said assistant coach Dan Ilott.
“Coming into the final set coach Jon Uriarte urged our young charges to maintain their focus in attack and they did, Australia winning the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.

“The team was in high spirits in the change room after the match and we are now looking forward to tomorrow night’s clash with the Netherlands in the city of Tilburg.”

But the coaching staff will be looking for a better start tomorrow night after the Australians poor opening stanza which saw a series of errors in side out attack give the Netherlands an 8-4 lead. After the timeout the Netherlands scored two blocks against the Australian attack to take a commanding lead at 11-5. 

Australia created points of their own through block and transition attack but again made errors to see the Netherlands leading 9-16. 

From this point Australia started to find their rhythm in attack, with 2.12m tall Queensland opposite Thomas Edgar converting two transition-for-point opportunities and Travis Passier and Igor Yudin contributed service aces to see Australia level the scores at 18-18. 

The Netherlands sided out and created two break points of their own on serve and this break proved decisive, the set going to the Netherlands 22-25.

Australia started the second set with an ace to Edgar, a stuff block to Passier and some strong team play in defence to lead 8-4 at the first technical time out. 

The Australians continued its good play through the middle of the set, applying good pressure in service and converting transition attack opportunities to lead 16-9 at the second technical. 

The Netherlands rebounded strongly, creating a number of transition-for-point attack opportunities and a stuff block to reduce the Aussie lead to within one point at 19-18. 

The set was well and truly in the balance with both teams siding out strongly until a stuff block from the Netherlands saw them level the scores at 22 all. 

Australia showed strong resolve to side out and then create a set point opportunity through a great stuff block to Passier. The set finished with a crowd pleasing service ace to Aidan Zingel that clipped the net cord and dropped straight to the floor, Australia winning the set 25-22.    

Australia continued its strong momentum into the third set, going from strength to strength as they began to dominate the Netherlands in attack and block, recording six stuff blocks for the set and converting a number of transition for point attacks. 

The Netherlands had no answer to the Aussie onslaught as Australia ran away with the set, 25-17.

The fourth set saw Australia continue its strong play, again dominating at the net with seven stuff blocks as the Netherlands tried a number of positional changes to find a solution, but it was to no avail as Australia repeatedly scored points in attack and played some excellent team defence, winning 25-18.

Ian Hanson
Volleyball Australia